History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c41.161.3

v2.c41.161.3

A payment of a larger sum of money immediately in full settlement of the amount due as chauth might have brought Orissa immediately to the English, but as Jānujī definitely states, the English procrastinated and the negotiations fell through.⁴ Similar letters were written by Divākar Pandit to Muhammad Riza Khān and Rāja Jānuji to Nawāb Nāzim Saif-ud-daulah. Finally, Udepuri Gosāin wrote once more to be permitted to go to Nagpur to conclude the negotiations. Muhammad Riza Khān sent for Mīr Zain-ul-'Abidīn Khān and asked him to explain his conduct but the latter protested his innocence and finally stated that the solution of all puzzles depended upon Udepuri Gosāin.¹ On the 24th of December, 1767, letters were written to Bhavānī Pandit and Dāmodar Bhañja informing them that Mr. Portsmouth had been appointed to survey the English districts contiguous to the sea-shore and requesting them to give him all possible assistance. The letter to Dāmodar Bhañja proves that the latter had been recognised as Rāja of Mayurbhañja in 1767 and Dāsarathi Bhañja was no more.² The war of Nārāyan Deo, Rāja of Parlakimedi, continued. English gasids to Madras were harrassed and Muhammad Riza Khān was directed to apprehend the Rāja's brother.⁴ Even on the 19th February the proposed treaty was not completed and a letter written to Jānuji informed him that he would learn the condition of the English from the letters of Nawāb Saif-ud-daulah and Muhammed Riza Khān.